Spirit-Filled

For all flesh had corrupted their way…Genesis 6:12

One can only imagine how man’s corruption affected their Creator. For God had created them in His image, Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 9:6: for in the image of God He made man. This is a strange paradox. Mankind was made in the image of God yet covered in flesh which becomes his downfall. Of course, God knew this would happen. 

The Apostle John explains: For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world, 1 John 2:16. Satan seized upon the frailty of man’s flesh—his senses. He saw this as a major flaw in God’s perfect creation. A place to insert temptation: the lust of the flesh. All that we sense becomes his weapon: what we see, what we touch, what we taste, what we hear and especially what we feel. Satan is so prideful he even attacked our Lord Jesus with these same temptations.

Which brings us to 1 John 3:17: And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. This is you. You will do God’s will because you love God and God loves you. Moreover, you have the seal of the Holy Spirit who guides you in all truth. Verse 24: Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in, by the Spirit whom He has give us.

This is God’s remedy for the weakness of our flesh. God’s word is His answer to those who insist we need their book on spiritual self-improvement. Most of these books contain steps by which we can attain a deeper love of God by keeping their set of rules. No!

God has given us a new heart; a new way of behaving. The success of our behavior is God’s new way of thinking. Romans 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

Think of yourself this way: walking in the flesh is not who you are. You are in Christ. Therefore, you walk in the Spirit, because that is who you are: Spirit-filled!